Statistics - Risk Factors

The statistics and risk factors of Testicular Cancer. Find out if you are at risk.

Statistics

Testicular cancer is the leading cancer in men ages 15 to 44

In this age group, more men will die of testicular cancer than women of breast cancer

Every hour a male is diagnosed with testicular cancer

Approximately 8,820 new cases will arise in 2015 in the US

1 out of 270 men will be diagnosed with testicular cancer

Approximately 380 deaths will occur in 2014.

If detected early, testicular cancer is over 95% curable.

Therate of testicular cancer has been increasing in the United States and many other countries. The increase is mostly in seminomas. Experts have not been able to find reasons for this increase. Lately, the rate ofincrease has slowed.

Testicular cancer is not common; a man's lifetime chance ofdeveloping testicular cancer is about 1 in 270. Because treatment is so successful, the risk of dying from this cancer is very low: about 1 in5,000.

Testicular cancer is highly curable when detected early, and 95% of patients with testicular cancer are alive after a five-year period. However, about half of men with testicular cancer do not seek treatment until the cancer has spreadbeyond the testicles to other locations in the body.

Risk Factors

The cause of testicular cancer is unknown. Certain risk factors may increase your chance of developing the disease. Testiclesnormally move from the abdomen into the scrotum before birth. A testiclethat remains in the abdomen which is called an undescended testicle or cryptorchidism may become cancerous. Parents should make sure thattheir infant boys are checked at birth for undescended testicles. Even after surgery for undescended testicles, you are still at risk. Other birth defects of the urogenital system, including penis malformations, kidney malformations and a congenital inguinal hernia, may also increase yourrisk of developing testicular cancer. If a close relative has hadtesticular cancer, you may also be at risk. White males have asignificantly higher risk of developing testicular cancer than blackmales.